During the 2012 Olympics, Iowa State was represented by two different nations and four athletes each with their compelling story on how they got to London.

But none may match that of Guor Marial’s.

Marial grew up in South Sudan, an area of the country that has been stricken by civil war for years. When Marial was 10, he fled everything he knew to survive.

On Sunday, Marial ran for the competition and fun of the 2012 Olympic Marathon.

Marial placed 47th in the marathon, just more than 11 minutes behind the winning time. But more importantly, he finished with as an Independent Olympic Athlete.

Marial pointed to the “I.O.A” on his uniform after just crossing the finish-line. Marial was given the chance to compete for Sudan, but declined because it was the oppressive government that caused his exodus from the country to America.

“Finishing the marathon is more important than anything,” Marial told the Washington Post on Sunday.